Fastening device



March 17, 1931. J. FLEECE FASTENING DEVICE Filed Sept. 15, 1929 273037207: QIOXW Weave Patented Mar. 17, 1931 JOHN FLEECE, F HARVEY, ILLINOISFASTENING DEVICE My invention relates to fastening devices for appareland the like, and more particularly to those designated as safety pins,and

my main object is to produce a device of this kind which may be handledwith safety whether in engaged or unengaged position.

A further object of the invention is to produce a fastening device whosepin is always protected by a guard against contact with objects notintended to be engaged by it.

A still further object of the invention is to design the novel fasteningdevice with means preventing the pin from projecting away from thedevice and endangering the hands or other parts of the body which maycome in contact with it.

Another object of the invention is to impart a form to the novelfastening device adaptable for the mounting of a shield, frontal coveror emblem for purposes of display.

An additional object of the invention is to design the same with amodified longitudinal form for greater capacity, as in the case where anumber of ruiiies are to be held by the pin.

A final but nevertheless important object of the invention is toconstruct the same of few parts, which aresimple and durable in use.

V fith the above objects in mind, and any others which may suggestthemselves from the description and claims to follow, a betterunderstanding of the invention may be gained by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the novelfastening device;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of a modification;

Figures 4 and 5 are, respectively, sections on the lines 4c4c and 55 ofFigure 2;

Figure 6 is a front elevation similar to Figure 1, showing a set ofretaining tongues;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 and including a shield secured bythe retaining tongues referred to;

Figure 8 shows the application of a figure or emblem to the novelfastening device; and

Figure 9 is a sectional detail showing a securing element adaptable tothe structure of Figure 8.

It is a familiar fact that the conventional safety pin often opensaccidentally and presents its pointed stem outwardly, whereby toendanger surrounding objects. to injury. Frequently, when apparel isworn with safety pins, the accidental opening of one or more of these isnot detected and the subject is injured without warning and placed indanger of blood poisoning. It has been my intention to eliminate theabove difiiculties in connection with safety pins by designing afastening device which accomplishes the above objects to their fullestextent.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the main portion of the novelfastening device comprises a circular loop one of whose ends is bentinto the loop on a diametrical line and pointed to constitute the pin16.

At the origin of the pin 16 is disposed a retainer 17 therefor. Thisretainer comprises a doubled plate of sheet metal, of substantiallysegmental form, one ply being full, as indicated at 18, and the otherply being medially divided to form sections 19. lhe ply 18 is flat, andis used for the construction of the divided ply 19 by rolling the curvedsurface of the retainer with a hollow bead 20. This head is clinchedupon the wire loop 15 whereby to locate the plies in close formation;0pposite the diviscn of the plies 19, however, the bead is prominentlyextended as indicated at 21 to form a finger which slightly curls at itsextremity to bear upon the pin 16, as shown in Figure 2. The latter isthus impinged by the finger 21 against the frontal ply 18 as a backing;however, the finger 21 is resilient, and will yield upon pressure by thepin 16 in the corresponding direction, as indicated by dotted lines inFigure 3.

The opposite portion of the loop 15 receives the point of the pin andserves as a keeper therefor. The keeper, which is indicated at 22, is adoubled and beaded member similar to'the retainer previously described,also being pressed rigidly upon the loop 15. However, the rear ply 22aof the keeper is split medially to define opposed spring tongues 23,which in connection with the frontal ply 22 act as clips.

As shown in Figure 2, the pin 16 normally occupies a position againstthe frontal plies 18 and 22 and with its point between the clip tongueslVhen the fastening device is to be used, the pin 16 is pushed back withthe forefinger while the thumb and middle fingers hold the sides of theloop 15, so that the pin 16 will move clear of the keeper and be in aposition to engage the garment or other articles which are to besecured. Once the material has been impaled upon the pin, the latter mabe released to return to normal position, after which it may be wrenchedlaterally in one or the other direction to enter one of the clip tongues22a. It will be understood that the pin will have suiiicient flexibilityor resilienc to permit of the lateral adjustment mentioned, and the pinwill now be retained against disengagement.

Should force develop with a tendency to dislodge the pin 16 from theclip tongue 22a the result may be that the pin resumes its normal ororiginal position. However, the constant tendency of the finger 21 tokeep the pin against the frontal ply 22 of the keeper will prevent therelease of the material held because of the resistance imposed by thebroad edge of the said ply. However, should such force be brought tobear that the material becomes separated entirely from the pin 16, thelatter will still retain its position within the guard-like retainer,and at no time project to tear goods or inflict injury to the body ofthe wearer. The novel fastening device is thus safe at all times.

Vhile the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 is the preferred one, it will benoted that the useful length of its pin 16 is not great. Con sequently,in instances where a long pin is of advantage, such as in the case ofsecuring a number of folds or rutlles I choose to elongate the fasteneras shown in Figure 3, presenting a much longer pin and quite as sturdy aconstruction as in the main embodiment.

The main embodiment of the fastening device is easily adaptable forbutton or badge use, that is,,to receive a frontal mounting or shield.Thus, the frontal plies 18 and 22 may be stamped with outstruck tongues24, which may be passed through slits in the button or badge shield 25,as shown in Figure 7, and rolled close to the shield in an outwarddirection to firmly retain the same. The doubledply formation alsoadapts itself to such mountings as require screws to keep them secured.Thus, Figure 9 shows the manner in which the plies are pressed forwardwith a tapped bearing 26, through which a screw may be directed into theback of a typical figure or emblem mounting 27. Figure 8 shows thismounting secured by four screws in the manner just described.

It will be seen that the novel fastening device is an article of compactand rugged construction. It is capable of being manufac tured by rapidmachine methods, and has the features of absolute safety and readyadaptability to various uses employing the expedient of a safety pin.

I claim:

1. A fastening device comprising a closed loop, a pin extended inwardlyfrom the latter and substantially in the same plane a guard memberbacking the pin in the region of its end, and clips opposite the guardmemleer and adjacent to the pin.

2. The structure of claim 1, said clips being tensioned to receive andclamp the pin when the latter is swung laterally in the correspondingdirection.

3. A. fastening device comprising a closed loop, a pin formed by theinward continuation of one end of the loop, and a guard for the pincomprising a plate opposite the same and secured to the loop by beingrolled over the same with hollow bead, and wings extended from the beadand pressed into cloubled formation with the plate.

A. fastenin device comprising a closed loop, a pin extended into thesame, and a keeper for the end portion of the pin comprising a backingplate, the latter being secured to the proximate portion of the loop bybeing rolled over the same with a hollow bead, an extension of the beadpressed into doubled formation upon the plate, and clips struck out ofthe extension adjacent to the end portion of the pin.

5. A badge comprising a closed loop, a retainer plate applied to thelatter at one portion, a pin extended from the retainer plate toward anopposite portion, a keeper plate applied with loops at the latterportion, a badge shield applied upon the plates, and means between thelatter and the shield to secure the shield to the plates.

6. A badge comprising a closed loop, a retainer plate applied to thelatter at one portion, a pin extendedfrom the retainer plate toward-anopposite portion, a keeper plate applied with loops at the latterportion, tongues struck out of the plates, and a badge shield perforatedby the passage of said tongues, the latter being bent upon the shield toretain the latter to the plates.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

JOHN FLEECE.

